Legends & Beasts

The Black Dog Legend has been heard across the world, for thousands of years, there have been sightings of huge black spectral dogs roaming the forests, castles, and caves of times long forgotten. They are known for having deep red eyes that penetrate the darkness and are seen in locations known for having demonic presence. But what are these dogs? Just an omen? Or something a hell of a lot more sinister?

The Black Dog legend is most often associated with the Devil or death. They are generally the size of a calf and have thick black fur and their signature glowing red eyes. They are also seen around crossroads, places of execution and ancient pathways.

These creatures are universally regarded as malevolent and few have even been known to psychically harm people. Black dogs have been sighted in almost every English county, as well as Scotland, The Channel Islands, Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and North and South America.

They are known by many different in names and to have many different purposes. In Scotland for instance, there is a legendary Black Dog that is said to guard a great treasure beneath a standing stone in Perthshire. These black

These dogs are seen at night and no-one has ever dared pass. Are these dogs standing guard of something? Or are they simply a manifestation of lingering evil. Let’s check out some of the locations they are known to haunt and find what they have in common.

Leap Castle’s Devil Dog Legend

Leap Castlewas named Ireland’s most haunted location long ago. It has a strong history in Druidic worship. The Devil himself was said to have visited the castle. The castle has been subject to hundreds of years of death and murder, in the 70s construction workers found a great pit containing thousands of bones. This room is now called the bloody chapel and they later found the pit was a torture hole with a spiked floor 30ft deep, people were thrown down there and impaled, over time, however, the body count grew so high they were just met with rotten flesh and left to starve.

The castle is best known for its malevolent hauntings, including a powerful and ancient spirit known as an Elemental. The Black Dog Legend of Leap Castle in one of its most infamous and has been seen countless times by numerous different visitors. Described as being as black as night, with dangerous red eyes, and being massive stature. The dog is said to have started appearing after the Devil sat here for a game of cards, the owner knows that seeing this dog never has a good outcome.

Dartmoor and the Hell Hounds

The Dartmoore Houndsare an infamous pack of spectral dogs that roam the Moore by night, made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of Baskerville, which was inspired by Dartmoore’s legendary black dogs. Actual pictures of what appears to be the black dogs surfaced recently and the beast was only meters away from a group of school children. You can check out the full story here.

The Legend begins with a man called Squire Richard Cambell, a hunter from Brook Manor, Buckfastleigh. The squire was rumored to have sold his soul to the Devil for wealth. He died in 1677 and shortly afterward a pack of pitch Black Dogs with glowing red eyes were reported to be running across the Moore and howling at his tomb by the local residents. These dogs are still seen right up to the modern day, roaming Dartmoor in the black of night. Locals will always warn against heading into the Moore after the sun sets, for thats when the legend of the Black Dog comes to life.

The Newgate Prison Sorcerer

Newgate Prison was known to be amongst the most wretched in England. Still today the alleyway by the former prison site dubbed ” Dead man’s walk” is still haunted today, with reports of the large black shadow of a man or a Red-eyed dog standing at the foot of the alley. The Legend of Newgate’s Black Dog Legend begins with the incarceration in 1596 following his capture he was sentenced to life in prison for suspected sorcery. Unfortunately for him, this was during he was imprisoned during one of London’s greatest famines and the inmates and decided to take up cannibalism. A group of prisoners ganged up on the man and ate him alive.

So the legend tells us the vengeful spirit of the Sorcerer managed to stick around long enough to summon up a demonic great Black Dog to terrorize the prison. It did just that and rampaged throughout the prison for seven nights in a row, tearing the prisoner’s limb from limb or caused them to die from pure fright. The actual prisoners who killed the sorcerer all ended up escaping from the prison, and so they thought the cursed dog. They were all found within a year their limbs torn away from their bodies and their torso half eaten. The alleyway by the former site of the prison, now known as Amen Court is still haunted by this Black Dog right up until the present day.

The Meon Hill Witch Hunt

Peel Castle is a Viking built castle and one of the most haunted and mysterious locations on the Isle of Man, all thanks to the Moddey Dhoo. “Moddey Dhoo” directly translates into Black Dog. The Moddey Dhoo was first seen on site during the castle’s original construction. He was a huge black dog with thick shaggy fur, some say he looked like an Irish Wolfhound but no-one knows who it belonged to. Its appearance continued to mystify the men, after the construction of the castle the Moddey Dhoo would appear only after the guards locked the gate. Every night as the sun set and the fire would die out the guards reported hearing heavy padded footsteps coming up the corridor to join them in the barracks.

There was one solid rule, that was not to take the keys to the captain’s room by yourself. Two guards in the castle’s history did just that. They were both found dead, ashen faced and a contorted expression of fear carved onto their faces. It was later discovered that the castle was built upon the foundations of an ancient church and the guard’s corridor passed directly over that area. Even more fascinating, was when the excavators dug up a coffin and discovered it held the remains of an ancient priest with a huge skeleton of a dog, buried alive at his feet.

Origins of the Black Dog

Looking back on a few of the locations with legends of a black dog above, they are all linked by evil deeds, in both the past and the present. Between Satanism, witchcraft, or murder these locations are all similar in the dark past they share. These locations are just a few compared to the hundreds similar found online. Hundreds upon hundreds of locations with sightings reported of these Black Dogs.

These spectral pooches can also be found in countless ancient scriptures, mythologies, and old fairy tales. In Celtic Welsh Mythology it states that the guardian of their Otherworld has a pack of red eyed spectral dogs, they guard the entrance points to his realm. Or in Greek Mythology, Cerberus a 3 headed black dog guards the entrance to the Underworld. Not only that but Chinese, Japanese, Native American, Icelandic, European and Australian mythology… Coincidence?

Whatever these dogs are there red eyes are a key point to look at. In a lot of demonic locations a key sign of their infestation are the red eyes often seen in the darkness, they are also known manifest as large black shapeless figures. Are the Black Dogs a demonic manifestation, guardian or just an omen? One thing is for sure if you ever see one, it’s time to get packing.

The Black Dog legend is most often associated with the Devil or death. They are generally the size of a calf and have thick black fur and their signature glowing red eyes. They are also seen around crossroads, places of execution and ancient pathways.

These creatures are universally regarded as malevolent and few have even been known to psychically harm people. Black dogs have been sighted in almost every English county, as well as Scotland, The Channel Islands, Wales, Cornwall, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and North and South America.

They are known by many different in names and to have many different purposes. In Scotland for instance, there is a legendary Black Dog that is said to guard a great treasure beneath a standing stone in Perthshire. These black

These dogs are seen at night and no-one has ever dared pass. Are these dogs standing guard of something? Or are they simply a manifestation of lingering evil. Let’s check out some of the locations they are known to haunt and find what they have in common.

Leap Castle’s Devil Dog Legend

Leap Castle was named Ireland’s most haunted location long ago. It has a strong history in Druidic worship. The Devil himself was said to have visited the castle. The castle has been subject to hundreds of years of death and murder, in the 70s construction workers found a great pit containing thousands of bones. This room is now called the bloody chapel and they later found the pit was a torture hole with a spiked floor 30ft deep, people were thrown down there and impaled, over time, however, the body count grew so high they were just met with rotten flesh and left to starve.

The castle is best known for its malevolent hauntings, including a powerful and ancient spirit known as an Elemental. The Black Dog Legend of Leap Castle in one of its most infamous and has been seen countless times by numerous different visitors. Described as being as black as night, with dangerous red eyes, and being massive stature. The dog is said to have started appearing after the Devil sat here for a game of cards, the owner knows that seeing this dog never has a good outcome.

Dartmoor and the Hell Hounds

The Dartmoore Hounds are an infamous pack of spectral dogs that roam the Moore by night, made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of Baskerville, which was inspired by Dartmoore’s legendary black dogs. Actual pictures of what appears to be the black dogs surfaced recently and the beast was only meters away from a group of school children. You can check out the full story here.

The Legend begins with a man called Squire Richard Cambell, a hunter from Brook Manor, Buckfastleigh. The squire was rumored to have sold his soul to the Devil for wealth. He died in 1677 and shortly afterward a pack of pitch Black Dogs with glowing red eyes were reported to be running across the Moore and howling at his tomb by the local residents. These dogs are still seen right up to the modern day, roaming Dartmoor in the black of night. Locals will always warn against heading into the Moore after the sun sets, for thats when the legend of the Black Dog comes to life.

The Newgate Prison Sorcerer

Newgate Prison was known to be amongst the most wretched in England. Still today the alleyway by the former prison site dubbed ” Dead man’s walk” is still haunted today, with reports of the large black shadow of a man or a Red-eyed dog standing at the foot of the alley. The Legend of Newgate’s Black Dog Legend begins with the incarceration in 1596 following his capture he was sentenced to life in prison for suspected sorcery. Unfortunately for him, this was during he was imprisoned during one of London’s greatest famines and the inmates and decided to take up cannibalism. A group of prisoners ganged up on the man and ate him alive.

So the legend tells us the vengeful spirit of the Sorcerer managed to stick around long enough to summon up a demonic great Black Dog to terrorize the prison. It did just that and rampaged throughout the prison for seven nights in a row, tearing the prisoner’s limb from limb or caused them to die from pure fright. The actual prisoners who killed the sorcerer all ended up escaping from the prison, and so they thought the cursed dog. They were all found within a year their limbs torn away from their bodies and their torso half eaten. The alleyway by the former site of the prison, now known as Amen Court is still haunted by this Black Dog right up until the present day.

The Meon Hill Witch Hunt

Peel Castle is a Viking built castle and one of the most haunted and mysterious locations on the Isle of Man, all thanks to the Moddey Dhoo. “Moddey Dhoo” directly translates into Black Dog. The Moddey Dhoo was first seen on site during the castle’s original construction. He was a huge black dog with thick shaggy fur, some say he looked like an Irish Wolfhound but no-one knows who it belonged to. Its appearance continued to mystify the men, after the construction of the castle the Moddey Dhoo would appear only after the guards locked the gate. Every night as the sun set and the fire would die out the guards reported hearing heavy padded footsteps coming up the corridor to join them in the barracks.

There was one solid rule, that was not to take the keys to the captain’s room by yourself. Two guards in the castle’s history did just that. They were both found dead, ashen faced and a contorted expression of fear carved onto their faces. It was later discovered that the castle was built upon the foundations of an ancient church and the guard’s corridor passed directly over that area. Even more fascinating, was when the excavators dug up a coffin and discovered it held the remains of an ancient priest with a huge skeleton of a dog, buried alive at his feet.

Origins of the Black Dog

Looking back on a few of the locations with legends of a black dog above, they are all linked by evil deeds, in both the past and the present. Between Satanism, witchcraft, or murder these locations are all similar in the dark past they share. These locations are just a few compared to the hundreds similar found online. Hundreds upon hundreds of locations with sightings reported of these Black Dogs.

These spectral pooches can also be found in countless ancient scriptures, mythologies, and old fairy tales. In Celtic Welsh Mythology it states that the guardian of their Otherworld has a pack of red eyed spectral dogs, they guard the entrance points to his realm. Or in Greek Mythology, Cerberus a 3 headed black dog guards the entrance to the Underworld. Not only that but Chinese, Japanese, Native American, Icelandic, European and Australian mythology… Coincidence?

Whatever these dogs are there red eyes are a key point to look at. In a lot of demonic locations a key sign of their infestation are the red eyes often seen in the darkness, they are also known manifest as large black shapeless figures. Are the Black Dogs a demonic manifestation, guardian or just an omen? One thing is for sure if you ever see one, it’s time to get packing.

There are secret societies in the world. Some made up of poor men and women looking for a chance to break free of the regime. But there are others, others made up of the world’s most powerful men and women. They like to control from the shadows, but you’ll never see them coming.

The Illuminati

The Illuminati is a group believed to be controlling the day to day events of the world and the day to day lives of everyone in it. Made up of the world’s most powerful and influential people, this most secret and powerful of societies was founded in 1776 in Bavaria, Germany. The official records actually state that the group was infiltrated and shut down after its original founding but many conspiracy theorists would strongly claim otherwise.

They would claim that the world’s most influential people are involved, artists such as Jay-Z, Eminem, and even Walt Disney. They are also supposedly made up of government officials and even world leaders such as Tony Blair, Donald Trump, and even Mr. Obama. There proof? There is a lot of debate on this subject, you could read online for weeks. But, those who spoke out against it have died mysteriously, been murdered or simply gone missing, such as John Lennon, Princess Diana, JF Kenedy, Tupac Shakur and Elvis Presley. Is this proof enough? You can decide. However, the most interesting theory is that not only have the Illuminati infiltrated most governments and major corporations, but also control the Catholic religion and the Pope himself sits at the head of the table!

The Priory of Sion

The Priory of Sion is one of the most elusive secret societies in the world. It leaves barely any trace. There are few mentions of them in forgotten history books and small glimpses of them in movies, fiction books etc… Then in the 1970’s, it was leaked that the Bibliotheque National de France held the Dossier Secrets d’Henri Lobineau and that document pointed to the Priory of Sion being based in Paris.

The file supposedly also contains an introduction to the Priory of Sion, maps of their meeting places in France, genealogies, newspaper clippings, and a list of Grandmasters that included Sir Isaac Newton, Victor Hugo and Leanardo Da Vinci. Above all the Priory of Sion protects the descendants of Jesus of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene who did eventually settle in France.

The Skull & Bones Society

Yale University is one of the most affluent and exclusive Universities in the world. Indeed it has produced some of histories most important men and women. Yale has a dark secret. A secret in the form of a society of its most promising students, who meet in a tomb and discusses the future of our world. Members or ‘Bonesmen’ have grown to be Ceo’s, government officials, supreme court officials and even presidents.

The Tomb in which they conduct their meetings is just as mysterious as the group itself. There are rumors of it being windowless and made up entirely of pure sandstone, its Egypto-Doric style structure making it look like a giant sepulcher. The tomb holds countless stolen relics and secret documents that contain the names of all its former members and ritual details. The tomb also contains the skulls of all formers members of note including Germino, Pacho Villa, Martin Van Buren, and Elihu Yale. They aren’t called Bonesmen for nothing. The Bonesmen take part in an activity they have dubbed ‘crooking’, the act of stealing valued possessions from other societies to show their individual cunning.

The Rosicrucian Order

In the early 17th century several manifestos were anonymously published. These manifestoes were full of legends, myths, alchemic formulas and most notably the Fama Fratemitatis. The Fama told the story of a 15th-century German doctor who traveled through parts of the ancient Middle East were he learned esoteric wisdom. He gained extensive knowledge regarding nature and the universe. When he returned to the West he tried to share his findings but was largely dismissed, so he formed his own group of like-minded people and named them the Order of the Rosy Cross.

Today the AMORC is devoted to ” the study of elusive mysteries and the universe”. However, others would claim their true aim is the ” universal reformation of mankind.” They claim their order can be traced back to Pharoh Thutmose III in 1477. There headquarters is located in Rosicrucian Park, California. The park holds a massive Rosicrucian museum, elaborate gardens, a research library, and a temple that holds the ashes of its founder Harvey Spencer Lewis.

Ordo Templi Orientis

The Order Templi Orientis was founded by a wealthy industrialist, Carl Kellner in 1895. It wasn’t until infamous occultist Aleister Crowley gained a senior role that this religious movement became a mystery to the world. The Society was firstly modeled after Freemasonry until Crowley added his own belief system based on his Book of Law. The Book is built up of occultism from both eastern and western rites.

The group is highly selective and you can move up in ranks by performing a selection of rituals and magical acts. The OTO is most well known for rituals being at their core, rituals including; tantric sexual acts, the summoning of Angels and Demons and Astral Projection. It is also rumoured they preform sacrificial rituals. Not the kind of group you would want to walk in on…

June 15, 2017

In the centre of a particularly arid Arizonian desert lies a mountain range unlike any other. Few pieces of land hold an infamy quite like the Superstition Mountains. Once called the Sierra de la Espuma by Spanish settlers, the Superstition Mountain range lies only a few miles from the Phoenix metropolitan area. They have been the source of legend spanning back hundreds of years.

These mountains are responsible for countless missing hikers and a deadly hunt for the richest gold cache in North America, so legends tells us, hidden within a secret cave somewhere deep in the mountains. Many of these mysteries still have no explanation and the allure for treasure hunters is still very real. However, Long before the tales of a Lost Dutchman, the Apache horde called these mountains home. Home came with a heavy price.

A Superstitious History

The Superstition mountains were formed millions of years ago after a long and violent period of volcanic activity. The mountains earliest recorded inhabitants were the infamous Apache Tribe. The tribe told stories of a hole in the very top of the mountain and from it, all the wind in the world originated. They also believed it to be the gateway to hell itself. Not only that, but those brave enough to enter would be granted wealth beyond their dreams.

The Superstition Mountains should have faded into history until one of the earliest European settlers changed everything. Dr Thorne was a Spanish doctor who was exploring the region when he came across a dying Apache warrior. He worked long hours into the night, eventually saving his life.

As a reward, Dr Thorne was blindfolded and led deep into the wilderness until they stopped. They blindfold was removed and Dr Thorne opened his eyes to be greeted by a magnificent cavern of ancient gold. He was permitted to take as much as he could carry home with him. He was never again able to retrace his steps, or perhaps he was just never willing.

Some years later, chasing the legend, the wealthy Peralta family bought a huge chunk of Superstition land and according to oral legend, they found a vein of gold that provided the family with an even more lavish lifestyle. However, it was not long before people began to take notice. In the late 1840’s the entire family were slaughtered whilst ferrying the gold to their new home in Northern Mexico. Some would say that the Apache warriors killed the family and then took the gold back to the cavern and hid the entrance once again. To this day the site were the Peralta family died is called The Massacre Grounds.

The Lost Dutchman

The Superstition Mountains have always been infamous but no single person fuelled the fire quite like one Jacob Waltz.

Jacob Waltz was a German immigrant born in 1808, he came to America in the late 19th century in search of gold. Jacob eventually found himself a prospector during the late 1800’s in the Phoenix valley. Following that he was recorded in New York for a short time before boarding a ship and disappearing for almost 50 years.

Eventually, Jacob turned up in the civilised world an old and sun-beaten man. He brought back nothing but stories of adventures and a treasure beyond their wildest dreams somewhere in the Superstition Wilderness. However, Jacob also came back with pneumonia and he told these tales from his deathbed to his caregiver Julia Thomas. He left her with a set of clues on how to found this ‘Golden Cave’.

The clues were like something straight out of Treasure Island. They were detailed instructions about passing through gorges and hidden paths to find. The most important and famous part is an outcropping known as ‘ Weaver’s Needle Figures’, they were used as a central point to find the cave that led down to the precious ore. Julia could never make sense of the clues and ended up selling them along with Waltz’s map for just $7.

The stories continue when two US soldiers came strolling into town claiming they had found gold in the desert in 1870. They vanished on their journey back into the wilderness to salivate more gold. According to rumours Waltz has boasted about his findings countless times and as a result, he was followed more than once. However, all of the thieves who followed always vanished without explanation…

Crazy right? Sure, it was all just rumour and fear mongering until one man, Adolph Ruth disappeared in the superstition mountains on a hunt for gold. That one man changed everything.

The Legend Lives On

Adolph Ruth was a well-known treasure hunter during the great American Gold Rush era. Ruth came into possession of Jacob Waltz’s treasure map from his son. Ruth Jr had accepted the map as a form of payment from a legal client. Ruth walked with a cane after sustaining an injury in a mine in his early life and was warned by many of his friends and colleagues not to go into the superstitioValleyey due to its vicious nature. Despite all of this, Adolph Ruth embarked on a 2 week into the Superstition Mountains with the Peralta Mine, glory and riches on his mind. His remains were found a year later.

Now Adolph did not just take a bad fall or run out of water, his skull was found detached from his body and with two clear bullet holes in his skull. After examination, it was found that the bullets had been fired from a shotgun at point blank range. His body was found some months later with his pistol still equipped without a single shot fired. Waltz’s Treasure Map was gone.

Many believed this to be the work of secret Apache guardians or rival treasure hunters. However, one last clue was found. Adolph’s journal was found not long after his body. His last entry described a vast golden cavern and the phrase ” Veni, Vida, Vinci “.

Adolph Ruth was not the first or last person to fall victim to these mountains. In the 1940’s the remains of James A. Carvery with his head also missing from his body. Again in 1945, a writer called Barry Storm was attacked whilst out looking for the mine. Since then countless hikers and treasure hunters alike have gone missing. Although not all of these expeditions were fruitless, a certain clue has been found and it’s on display for all to see.

Located in the newly opened Lost Dutchman Museum rests several large slabs of stone originally recovered around the area where the entrance to the mine supposedly lies. They large slabs of slate have strange but detailed carvings engraved deep into the stone. Many have called them ‘ The Peralta Stones’ believing them to be a kind of map so that the Peralta family could always find a way back to the Apache Gold.

The Legend of the Lost Dutchman, 200 Years Later

The Legend of theLost Dutchman has not yet died. There are many in search of the gold mine but one man has dedicated his entire life to the cause. Wayne Tuttle head hunter of the show ” Legend of the Superstition Mountains has spent over 40 years trying to decipher the clues and endlessly scouring the Superstition wilderness. He had this to say.

“I’ve been in areas where it’s said there would be no possible sign of gold. I’ve found mines that have been worked out and found ore samples that still hold traces of gold in them,” Tuttle said. “The big prize, I think, for everybody, would still be — even not finding the mine — there is a stash of gold somewhere buried in a little pit in the ground near Waltz’s camp, and who knows what that could be worth — two, three million dollars just sitting there under our feet. Every time I’m in specific areas, I wonder if I’ve walked over that spot.”

It leaves one to wonder, was this all just legend or is there a little more truth. I guess we will leave it to Mr Tuttle to find out for us.

Cemeteries will always be creepy af, the moment the sun goes down they become a whole different place. Some Cemeteries are stunning like the Highgate Cemetary in London but some are just plain morbid. However, all graveyards have legends, but none quite so real as the Oakland and Fairview Cemeteries in Iowa. Both are home to black angels and both have been causing mayhem.

The Legends all seem to revolve around Tereza Dolezal Felvedert, a migrant from Strimilov, Bohemia who came to America to make a new home.

Teresa moved with her son Eddie who died two years later of Meningitis. Others claim he died in a more suspicious fashion, much like the death of a new husband two years after.

To Mourne their deaths, Teresa hired a fellow Bohemian to construct a bronze angel to stand guard over her lost loves. She moved the remains of her son from his original resting place to be next to his stepfather. Then she, herself, shortly followed dying of cancer on November 18, 1924.

Her angels were placed underneath her angel. That’s when the weird things began to happen.

The Stories began after the angel turned black. Of course, this was most likely the natural oxidisation. However, it happened at such an unnatural speed that people became freaked out and rumours about the late Miss Felvedert began to surface.

Worst of all, perhaps, that she murdered her son and then moved his body under the angel. The angel looks down which defies the ‘norm’. Angels traditionally angels look up, with their arms spread towards the sky which is meant to guide the lost souls to heaven. This black angel looks down, with her arms and wings blocking the transcendence and keeping the spirits of her son and husband trapped on earth.

This remains one of Iowa’s most haunted locations regardless. With everyone from University professors to paranormal investigators coming to pay the Cemetary a visit.

In 2013, the SyFy series Haunted Highway visited Oakland Cemetery to devote an entire episode to the Black Angel. When filming they captured a number of odd sounds and visual anomalies. Most significantly when they flicked there thermal cameras on the angel was glowing hot, defying the cold night air surrounding it…

The Black Angel of Fairview Cemetary

On the other side of Iowa stands another Black Angel who is also surrounded by strange tales and paranormal activity.

This angel presides at the Ruth Ann Dodge Memorial, just outside the entrance to Fairview Cemetary. Fairview is also called ” The Old Burial Ground ” and is one of the oldest burial grounds in the country.

It Began as a native American burial ground and was taken over by the Mormons for a short time. This Black Angel was erected to mark the grave of Ruth Ann Dodge, the wife of General Grenville M. Dodge.

Soon after Ruth Ann’s death, her daughters brought her body to Council Bluff to bury her. They then hired Daniel Chester French to build the angel Ruth Anne saw in her ‘visions’ when she was close to death. Mr French was best known for building the Lincoln Statue in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. I bet she didn’t come cheap.

The Black Angel is said to follow visitors with her eyes and is known to cause sickness if you make eye contact for two long.

The Graveyard is also a well known haunted spot with lights seen hovering behind the older trees on the site, as well a constant feeling of being closely followed.

May 24, 2017

Ireland has an insanely rich history and is notably one of the most beautiful places in the world. However, it was plagued by war, murder, disease, satanic rituals, and druidic activities for thousands of years. Needless to say, these historic events have left their marks, in some locations more than others… Here’s 4 of Ireland’s most haunted locations.

Leap Castle

Leap Castle has been around since the 15th century and since then it has seen bloody family feuds, satanic worship, and pure, brutal murder. This is enough for any location to be haunted but when you add into the equation that this place was also built on land that was sacred to ancient Celtic Druids it gets a little more interesting. The Druids were said to have summoned up an Ele.Men.Tal to protect the surrounding lands.It as been seen in the form of a skeletal man walking around within and outside of the castle. This is easily one of Ireland’s most haunted locations

The skeletal man is mainly seen in castle’s Bloody Chapel which is named as the heart of all the dark activity within Leap Castle. In the centre of the bloody chapel, there is a massive hole in the ground where countless people were thrown onto to spikes to be impaled and to be forgotten, eventually the victim would only land on bones. Called the Oubliette wich in French means ” to be forgotten ” this hole seems to have fully served its purpose. It was cleared a few hundred years later, it took 3 horse drawn carriages to empty the human remains…

Baleybolley Forest

BalleyBoley is renowned for being one of the most haunted forests in the world. It has been the centre of Irish Folklore and legend that the locals refuse point blank to go near it. During the 15th-17th century, countless locals went missing from around and within the forest. Afterwards, they would find absolutely no trace of them. However, locals report to terrified women screaming and towering pillars and white smoke rising from somewhere near the centre of the wood. For 500 years white columns of smoke are still seen rising from the centre, and the woman’s screams still heard from within this haunted Irish wood.

Back in 2013 two young guys decided to go wandering into the forest ignorant of its history. It wasn’t long until they heard women screaming. So they ran in deeper until they came to a small stone altar and all of a sudden the ear-splitting scream of a women sounded from directly behind them. Needless to say, they ran like hell. However, one guy turned around and saw four figures dressed in long white, blood smeared robes. Hoods up and faces hid in shadow, just standing and watching them run. The figures were also surrounded by trees all covered with blood.

Montpellier Hill

Originally a hunting lodge built by an Irish nobleman in 1725, it should have been a grand site. Unfortunately, Lord William Connolley decided to build his lodge on an ancient cairn. If that wasn’t bad enough he thought it would be cost effective to use the stones of the cairn to build his new holiday home. Every single stone used in the construction was once part of an ancient tomb for fallen Irish warriors. This act has evidently pissed something off.

William Connolly mysteriously died a few years later & the Montpellier Lodge became home to an infamous satanic cult, The Hellfire Club. The Hellfire Club was a group of High-born men and women known for indulging in sacrifice and mass sexual gatherings. They were also famed for drinking the blood of the animals and people they killed. Still, today evidence of more recent satanic activities can be found. All of these acts have left a dark and oppressive atmosphere, as well as something a little more sinister.

The Steward’s House

Constantly dudded as one of Ireland’s most haunted locations. Just Across the road from Mont Pellier Lodge sits the Steward’s House & Stables. Built and lived in by Mathew Connolly and his family, the same man who built the lodge. It was said to also play host to the Hellfire Club and their dark atrocities. In the 1970’s the property was purchased by a Miss O’Brien. She had only spent two nights in her new home before she had been terrified by her dogs making strange howling sounds as if they were terrified. She went downstairs to investigate and found her home destroyed but with no signs

She went downstairs to investigate and found her home destroyed but with no signs of intrusion. During the refurbishments builders constantly quit due to disturbing events, they also found the remains of a dwarf that looked to have had his skull caved in. Some weeks later, Tom O’Massy turned and saw a small deformed man standing three foot tall. He stared at the artist and his assistant before turning into a huge black cat with gleaming red eyes. Needless to say, they ran. That was not the first time this monstrous cat has been seen, it is known as the Killkiky cat and it prowls the halls of Steward’s house day and night. Never turn its portrait upside down.

February 5, 2017

So we have all heard of the Exorcist movie, the original horror that scared the shizz out of everyone who dared to buy that cinema ticket. But there is a lot more that happened behind the scenes. So much, that is thought that the movie itself is cursed. But does anyone remember the dummy used in the film?? The scenes where the possessed girl would spin her head 180 degrees? Well, it has surfaced and something seems to have been following it all these years…

The Latest Haunted Object !!!

This is easily the world’s freakiest haunted object, even Robert the Doll can’t knock this creepy ass creation. But it has just come to light that it is haunted!

The Dummy used effectively as Regan’s body double during a few of her possession scenes comes with a few crazy features of its own, the most insane being that its head spins 180 degrees! Imagine walking in on that happening.

The Moving Museum NYC now plays host to the cursed dummy, we have not heard anything from them yet. The Instagrammer Profenex had this to say “I swear, lights would go out. Things would fall off the shelf, tools turned on automatically. Weird voices at night with no one there. Seriously weird stuff, no joke.” The Instagrammer played host to the dummy when he was hired to do some restoration work on her, but I’m guessing the attachment that comes with this doll went unmentioned.

The Dummy is one to watch for sure, but this prop was one the least weird parts of the Exorcism phenomena that swept the world…

The Cursed Movie

Ever since Prorenfx took to Instagram to tell the world of the horror that still lingers around the Exorcist movie dummy. A lot of people forward about their experiences with the movie. The Regan Doll is a strong contender for the world’s most haunted object but there are stories circulating the movie itself!! The cast, the first screening, and even the location where it was all filmed! Was creating a movie of this calibre for the first time too risky and did it perhaps invite something evil into the world?? Let’s find out.

First of all, you have to remember that this insane ass film was all based on true events. William Blatty first wrote the novel in 1971 titled The Exorcist and it was all based on the real exorcism of a boy known as Roland Doe. Multiple Catholic Priests from the Georgetown University Hospital performed actual exorcisms on the young boy but had to stop every time as the young boy would somehow, free himself from the restraints every time, he would then proceed to rip out the bed springs from his mattress and slash at the priests. This happened a few times.

The boy Roland Doe was in fact, an invented persona and the boy was changed to a girl in the film in order to protect his identity. Roland went on to live a happy and normal life with absolutely no memory of this incident. He actually retired from NASA decades later.

Another of the strange incidents that surrounded this movie was when the entire set caught fire. The actual Director William Friedkin, blamed the incident on a large creature with wings and talons. The crew was unharmed and the cause of the fire was never discovered. But, Regan’s room remained the only room unharmed… WTF.

Whilst filming, the actress Ellen bursten, who played Regan’s mother, was injured during the possession when she is thrown to the floor. That scene was actually used in the movie and the scream following is real. The injury still affects her today.

There is a good chance that any movie that takes over a year to film has had some bad luck, The Exorcist had a few deaths instead… The actors Jack Macgowran and Vasiliki Maliaros both died post-production. There characters died in the movie aswell which only makes it stranger. Other actors including Linda Blair and Max Von Sydow’s lost family members on the first day of filming!

During filming the son of Jason miller who played father miller almost lost his son in a motorcycle accident.

Whilst filming one of the possession scenes, Linda was thrown out of bed and a piece of the rigging broke, injuring her back. After the film’s initial release Linda received countless death threats so the studio was forced to hire bodyguards to protect her 24/7.

Before that, however, in 1987, the actress Mercedes McCambridge who played the voice of Pazuzu, was most affected by the film. Her son murdered his wife and son whilst he was on set, before taking his own life…

All of these horrible things that happened around the movie will never be forgotten. Many still believe the film to be cursed and that playing it was an invitation for demonic possession. When it was released it was quickly banned from every middle eastern country apart from Lebanon, with the re-release also being banned in Lebanon.

During the first showing of the Exorcism in Rome, the audience had to fight their way through thunder and heavy rain to get inside. Then just before the movie was about to start they all claimed to hear a demonic screech come from outside the cinema door.

At a showing in America, a woman passed out and broke her jaw as she fell… Warner bros were sued countless times by the time the movie was eventually taken from cinemas…

There was way too many strange occurrences surrounding this movie to ignore. Was it all just hysteria following the original horror, or did this daring picture truly invite something darker than anything else into the cinema with us…

Mountains have always been a terrain that have inspired mystery and adventure for generations. In North America, the Appalachian Mountains are steeped in strange and inexplicable occurrences. The trail is one of the most popular in America, stretching just over 2,200 miles.There is a lot of incredible phenomena reported here from hauntings to mythical beasts, bizarre human looking figures, secret underground bases and even lost tribes. Whatever is going on up there is mysterious for sure, but is it of this earth?

The Appalachian Tunnel’s

There are rumours of hidden tunnels and secret labs dotted throughout the world’s most haunted hiking trail. However, rumour came to life when the remains of a military base were rediscovered in the Blue Ridge Summit were rediscovered. It is a vast underground military bunker which was supposedly a sort of electronic nerve centre and command post. It is also known as “Raven Rock,” ” Site R” and the ” Underground Pentagon”.

The Base is 650ft underground and spreads across just over 716 acres, with 5 different subterranean buildings. It is thought that all of the strange tunnel entrances found across the Mountain somehow link back to this, but it was also rumoured that a lot of the mountains strange creatures have in fact escaped from a secret lab, located in the heart of the base….

SpearFinger

Spearfinger is essentially a forest witch derived from a Cherokee legend from around Tennessee/ North Carolina area. She is thought to be women with a razor sharp and extra long digit who roams the area at all times of the day. She is made of stone and her feet crash like thunder when she strides through her forest, birds are said to flee from her and thus so if you hear thunderous footsteps and see birds flying you know she is coming. She uses her extra long and sharp index finger to slice open her victim’s bellies and then eat their livers. Her face is permanently spattered with blood.

This obviously sounds more like a made up story, originated in some kids bedroom or around a campfire but an old woman has been seen along the trail. She is said to look ragged and beaten with dirt on her face and broken twigs in her tatty hair. She stands and stares directly at you, then usually raises an extra long finger to point right at you.

The Snarly Yow

The Snarly Yow has for many years been causing mayhem and mishaps. Right back to the colonial times, it would appear and terrify horses. Once the rider had been thrown from the frantic horse, the Snarly Yow would then simply, disappear. This legend has carried through until the modern day and the Snarly Yow has been reported around the area. The Yow has been seen lunging in front of cars, causing the driver to swerve and crash thinking it was just a stray dog. As soon as the driver gets out the black dog will simply bare its fangs, growl, and then disappear into thin air.

They Snarly Yow has been seen for many hundreds of years and it would seem it’s the only purpose is to scare those who cross it’s path. It looks to enjoy chasing down cars and frightening them or, it would simply stand in the path of passing hikers and refuse to move. In turn forcing them to find a different route. The Snarly Yow does look like a malevolent force at first glance, but it has never exactly hurt anyone…

The SnallyGaster

The Snallygaster is known to be the Appalachian’s most famous legendary beast, with even President Roosevelt sending a hunting party to capture the monster. It is said that the Snallygaster is an abomination that is mainly the cross between a reptile and a bird. It has an alligator-like head with a fang-filled beak, fleshing tearing talon’s, and a 25ft wingspan. It is even said to have poisonous breath and lighting fast speed. It would swoop down silently at unmatchable speed and then such its victims dry of blood.

The Snallygaster originates from German settlers in the 1730’s, when they claimed to be terrorised by a flying monster. From then on sightings increased, and in the 1900’s the Gaster gained a great deal of coverage when several news stations printed stories of a string of accounts from the locals, reporting a terrifying winged reptile terrorising their local lands. The only thing thought to be able to keep the Snallygaster at bay was a 5 pointed star and still today, you will see some old barns and farmhouses sporting a metallic 5 pointed star on the front doors.

Dudleytown

Dudleytown in Connecticut, also known as ” The Village of the Damned”. is one of the Appalachian’s most haunted and America’s most mysterious ghost towns. The town itself was founded around 1740 and according to legend, it was founded by the direct descendant of Edmund Dudley. Edmund Dudley was the former right-hand man of King Henry IV’s. Edmund must have made some really lumpy porridge because he was beheaded for treason.

After the beheading the entire family was cursed, the curse followed them across the Atlantic to Dudleytown. The town lasted for around 60 years. The entire 60 years was met with a struggle for survival and was eventually abandoned in the 1800’s. A few building’s do remain but it is forbidden to enter… I’m sure the ghosts have nothing to do with that.

The Burned Man

There was a man, back in 2011 who was on a hiking trip, he made a fire and set up his camp and finally got snug in his tent. As he was drifting off there was a guy standing by the fire, he looked burnt. He looked like he was still burning… So the hiker ran towards his car, but in his fear and confusion, he ran onto a strange road.

Just along the edge of the road, he found a recently burned house and a fire chief standing outside making notes on his clipboard. He told the fire chief he saw a man who as burning, thinking it was one of the victims. The chief told him that was impossible… All the victims died in the fire. That was not the only time the Burned Man has been seen…

The Lumberjack

One of the more crucial legends comes from the Kentucky region of the Trail in Dec.26, 1945 when an old mine exploded. Some men found themselves trapped but then all claimed to see a door open in the darkness, the door slid open and from the side of the mountain came a strange figure who looked like a lumberjack. The room it came from was supposedly well lit. The strange man assured the miners they would be alright and then turned and went back into his secret room. The door then closed and sealed up, as if it was never there.

This was the first time the Lumberjack was seen but not the last. Another mine disaster in Pennsylvania only left two survivors. The two men claimed to have been rescued and guided out of the mine by strangely dressed men who used a blue light. Apparently, whenever the figures touched the mine wall, it would flicker into life and shift into holographic images. Just as they could see the light, the strange figures turned and descended back into the darkness from where they came. Both survivors gave an identical account and insisted that it was not a hallucination.

The Pierce Pond Ghost

Along the Appalachian Trail, there are a few perfect fishing spots, one of these is known as Pierce Pond. After spending the day fishing, a guy on vacation set up camp on the edge of the water and was just lighting a fire to cook his catch of the day. As the sun began to set, the man saw a figure walking along the edge of the water. The strange entity began to walk towards him and then eventually faded into the darkness. Thinking nothing of it, the fisherman settled down and began to tuck into to his freshly caught fish. He set up camp again the next night in the same spot and again saw this same figure walking towards him. This time it got even closer and even stopped to look at him, and then inevitably disappeared into the night.

The third night, the same thing happened. Only this time the figure came so close that the fisherman could just about make out some facial features. It paused even longer this time, staring directly at the fisherman. His expression was twisted and sinister… He faded into the night again. This was enough for the fisherman, deciding he did not want to see how close the entity would get on night 4, he packed up and headed home, never to return to Pierce Pond again.

January 7, 2017

Human history on earth is beneath our feet. Everyday archaeologists are discovering amazing new things that are changing the way we are looking at the past. Some of the strange skulls dug up over the years are doing just that. From Peru to Venice here is our list of the world’s most mysterious skulls.

The Paracas

The Paracas Skulls were discovered in 1928 by Julio Tello. In total, the archaeologist found just over 300 of these elongated skulls in a massive and elaborate graveyard in the Pico province of Peru. The skulls caught the media’s attention again in 2014 when a geneticist carried out DNA testing, stating that the Paracas Skulls have DNA ” with mutations unknown to any human, primate, or known animal so far”.

However, secondary testing showed us that the skulls were about 2000 years old and were from the European and Middle Eastern areas. These results change the known history about how the Americas were originally populated. It is believed that the shape of the skull was part of an indigenous ritual, where the tribes would tie a rope around an infant’s head as well as strapped a wooden plank to the back of the head. This caused the head to grow up, instead of out. But why were they doing this !? Experts stated that ” They were trying to replicate the shape of the head of their gods”. Men from the sky with long skulls? That’s definitely got nothing to do with an alien species then.

The Vampire of Venice

During medieval times, the cure for suspected vampirism was to shove a large break into the cursed one’s mouth, thus breaking the jaw and leaving the vampire unable to bite again and then, of course, bury them alive. It is not clear exactly what this woman did to deserve her sentence. After extensive research, it is thought that this woman was between 61 and 71 and was most likely sentenced to death after being accused of witchcraft and the brick was just a safeguard.

Commonly women of the 16th century did not live past 60, so if she was closer to the 70-year benchmark, then the men of that time must have concluded that she was a vampire, and like her predecessors had most obviously cheated death. Not sure if this deserved death by brick-to-face…

The Rhodope Skull

Image Via : Blumhouse

The Skull of Rhodope, found in Bulgaria is amongst the strangest remains found to date. It weighs only 250 grammes and has six cavities, it would have had up to 6 eyes or another set of unknown organs. It also has no mouth. Unfortunately, this skull was quickly hidden from the public view, today it is unknown where it is located, but we have heard too many times how quickly these types of objects can disappear. Alien or mutation? Perhaps it is just an undiscovered species… Only time will tell unless this particular skull fades from living memory.

The Horned Skulls of PA

These creepy skulls were dug up from a burial mound in Pennslyvania in the late 1800’s. The excavators were actually following up on leads of this mound once belonging to Native American’s, but they found what look like demon’s skulls. It is a well-known fact that spiritual leaders or priests of this culture would wear horn’s on their head as a sign of wisdom. However, these horns are growing from the skull itself. Not to mention the skulls belonged to creatures that would have been 7ft tall.

There have been trickles of evidence that have been found over time that support a theory that a race of giant humanoids ruled over the America’s as part of an ancient civilisation. The remains of these skulls were sent to Philadelphia Museum for further research, but prepare yourself for a surprise… They were stolen and never seen again…

The Starchild

This skull was found near a mine in Chihuahua, Mexico during the 1930’s. It was fully examined by a paranormalist, Lloyd Pye who claimed that this was evidence of human and alien interbreeding. He thought that the mother was human and his father an alien. It was originally believed that this 1000-year-old skull simply belonged to a child with a condition called hydrocephalus. However, the DNA showed no evidenced of this affliction. It also showed many genetic differences between the

However, the DNA showed no evidenced of this affliction. It also showed many genetic differences between the Starchild and a regular human, enough to prove that this thing was not human at all. His cranial cavity for one was 30% bigger than that of a normal child, its bone was also much thinner but actually stronger than that found in a normal human skull, this was thanks to microscopic fibres found in the in its structure, a feature never before seen in human skulls.

According to legend, the dried and pickled hand of a hanged man possesses supernatural powers. These hands are said to possess the power to manipulate the movement of a room or house full of people… But what is it !?

The Magic Behind The Hand

Im sure all you Harry Potter fans out there will be going nuts over Mr Malfoys Hand of Glory. This cursed item, in particular, is surrounded by mystery, black magic and death. It has a much darker purpose than most objects of a similar nature.

The hand made it’s first appearance during the 1600’s, it was mentioned in the grimoires similar to Petit Albert and the Compendium Maleficarum, It was also published in some manuals for witch hunting. The creation of this sinister object varies, as do its magical uses. They all involve a rather obvious hand but sometimes it is the severed hand of an executed criminal or a dead child’s hand, but the latter not so often.

(The Last Hand of Glory on Display)

The exact instructions are : Take the right or left hand of a felon who is hanging from a gibbet beside a highway; wrap it in part of a funeral pall and so wrapped squeeze it well. Then put it into an earthenware vessel with zimat, nitre, salt, and long peppers, the whole well powdered. Leave it in this vessel for a fortnight, then take it out and expose it to full sunlight during the dog days until it becomes quite dry. If the sun is not strong enough, put it in an oven with fern and vervain. Next make a kind of candle from the fat of a gibbeted felon, virgin wax, sesame, and phone and use the Hand of Glory as a candlestick to hold this candle when lighted …

None of this sounds too difficult and this item could come in handy to any local thieves! The most common suggestion of the hands uses where the use of the dead man’s fat to fuel the flame, in doing so the user would be able to paralyse anyone in a house or building, anyone but the user. Other theories vary. Including the candle having the power to open any lock, the flame burning brighter in the presence of treasure, or only provides light to the wielder ( Potterheads ).This does all sound incredibly useful ! But I can guarantee that your local store does not sell Zimbat or Ponie. Although the word ‘ Ponie ‘ is thought to mean horse poop ! So you have a little bit of a head start there.

Now there are ways to protect yourself from the creepy ass reach of a Hand of Glory. You can render it ineffective by running the threshold of all the windows and doors of your home with a mixture of screech owl blood, fat of a white hen and the gall of a black cat.

In these modern times, researchers do now think that the idea of a Hand of Glory is a kind of ” lost in translation ” moment. The theory first arrived when the word ” Mandragora “, or the mandrake root ( Potterheads ) was mistranslated from the french word main de gloie. However, this did not stop the Hands of Glory appearing time and time again throughout English Folklore and in actual homes !

One story involving the Hand of Glory comes out of the Spital Inn in North Stainmore 1797, where a burglar was found in the dead of night and in possession of one of these rather useless severed hands. There is also an actual Hand of Glory in England’s Whitby Museum. The magic relic was found sealed up in the walls of an old cottage in Castleton in 1935. It is apparently the last genuine Hand of Glory in existence.

Today the Hand of Glory has been used in a few movies like Hellboy and Harry Potter. There are even a few songs about the hand. It will remain in English Folklore and hopefully, the last remaining hand stays in good condition for hundreds of years. An awesome example of the madness of the 1600’s. http://www.the-line-up.com/hand-of-glory/

The Hellhounds of Dartmoor have been in Cornish myth for hundreds of years. These spectral Dogs are said to roam the moor with thick black fur and blood red eyes. Recently in 2007 a video was captured ( Below ) as well as a few photos ( Further Down ) in which you can see what they claim to be the beast of Dartmoor, but to be honest it looks more like a rather large rabbit…

The beasts roaming the moor have been feared by farmers for generations. They have, for sure, been something of a local myth with a tonne of blurry pictures provided as evidence. However, there has been some evidence that surfaced back in 2007.

July 2007

During July 2007 there was a group of school children out for a trip in the Moore. Seen only yards away from the group in Hound Tor on Dartmoor, but most intriguingly they actually captured an image ! They described the beast as larger than life with a thick, shaggy coat, rounded ears and huge front limbs, powerful enough to tear a human to shreds.

Falconer Martin Whitley, who photographed the creature, said: “It was walking along a path about 200 yards away from me.

“It was black and grey and comparable in size to a miniature pony. It had very thick shoulders, a long, thick tail with a blunt end and small round ears.

“Its movements appeared feline, then bear-like sprang to mind. There was a party climbing on the tor opposite making a racket but it ignored them completely.”

Some experts have said it is just a wild dog or cat, some of the crazier ones did say it could be a bear or a wolverine. If anyone has read anything up on the Beast of Bodmin Moore recently you will find that there where wild Jaguars filmed by a sports centre down there !!! These jaguars were supposed to be escaped exotic pets. Take a look at another shot of a beast caught on the Moore.

This animal is completely different, it almost looks like a bison but there again its legs are more like that of a hare… Whatever it is, it’s creating a story, creating something that the world is forced to take a second look at.

The Hellhounds of Dartmoor

During the 1800’s spiritualism and ghosts on a whole were crazy popular. They loved anything to do with ghost hunting or mediumship. So when rumour hit of a pack of spectral dogs, known locally as the Whist Hounds or Hound’s of Hell, were roaming the moor they went nuts. It inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of Baskervilles. He was Inspired by a local enthusiast called Richard Cabell from Brook Manor.

Richard was rumoured to have sold his soul to the Devil and after he died a phantom pack of spectral hunting dogs with glowing red eyes were said to have been released on the Moor at night. They have been witnessed howling at his tomb. Legend has it that as part of his contract the dogs were allowed to roam the Moor and in return he was gifted with wealth, hence the manor house. Funny how the the link of English lords and deals with demonic forces seem to keep cropping up in history…

The founder of the national research network Big Cats in Britain, Mark Fraser, said: “It looks like a wolverine or a bear in some shots and a big wild dog in others. It is a very strange animal.”

Mr Whitley is adamant that the creature is not a wild dog.

He added: “I have worked with dogs all my life and it was definitely not that.

“I have seen a collie-sized black cat in the area about ten years ago and it was not that – this was a lot bigger.

“You would be surprised at the number of people who have seen black big cats and something resembling a small bear in the area over the course of the years.”

Disappointingly for those who possess a vivid imagination, the most likely explanation yesterday was that the Beast is nothing more supernatural than a large and hairy wild boar.

North Devon farmer Al Dedames lost more than 100 of his stock of boar in December 2005 when animal rights activists raided his farm and destroyed fencing.

Since then, more than half are thought to have died in road traffic accidents or been shot by farmers or hunters.

But those which survived have bred and up to 175 are said to be roaming the wilds of Devon and Somerset.

Is this more than just some escaped dogs ? Is this really a follow up from the Devil’s promise ? That’s for you, our most awesome readers to decide.